Louisville, Ky. -- The women's cross country team came in 17th out of 38 teams in the Red Race at the Pre-National Invitational on Saturday. Senior Courtney Yaeger, running in her third race of the season, led the Illini for the third consecutive week and finished 48th overall.

"We had some people run solid but we didn't have the race we were hoping for," head coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "I think our youth and nerves got in the way today, we beat ourselves. I know we can race better, we just have to give ourselves a chance to do it. We need to develop more consistency."

Yaeger cut 45 seconds off her previous personal best time set at the 2010 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. After setting a career best last week at the Notre Dame Invitational, Yaeger posted a 6K time of 21:00 on the E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park Course.

Freshman Amanda Fox (21.33) ran well, taking 98th overall and posted another top-four finish for the Illini. Fox has finished in the top four for Illini in each of the three races she has run this season. Redshirt freshman Alyssa Schneider crossed the line next for the Orange and Blue with a time of 21.40, placing 109th.

Senior Madeline Aufmann nearly set a new personal best, crossing the line 133rd with a time of 21:50. Junior Katie Porada (21:57) rounded out the Illinois scoring and placed 149th.

Six Illini also competed at the Bradley Classic, with Rachel Irion leading the group, posting a 6K time of 22:36. The Bradley Classic was Irion's first race at the 6K distance. The rest of the results from Peoria, can be found below.

"We will be ready for Big Ten's in two weeks," Rasmussen said. "The girls will be hungry to bounce back and accomplish goals we set back at the beginning of the year."

The Orange and Blue will be home next weekend as they welcome cross country teams to the Illini Open on Friday, Oct. 19 at the UI Arboretum at 4 p.m. CT before traveling to East Lansing, Mich., for the Big Ten Championships on Sunday, Cot. 28.